Apparatus for supplying steam or other vapors



Dec. 3, 1929. P. M. CABE LL 1,737,826

APPARATUS FOR SUPPL YING STEAM OR OTHER VAPORS Original Filed May 1, 1925 1-; ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PHILIP MASON GABELL, OF NEW YORK, I. Y.

I APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYI-NG STEAM OR OTHER VAPORS Application filed May 1, 1925, Serial No. 27,337. Renewed March 1, 1929.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying steam or other vapor, and aims to provide a simple self-regulating apparatus for supplying steam or other vapor under a uniform pressure.

In an apparatus according to the invention, the steam or other vapor is formed in a flash boiler, or generator, and the water or other liquid to be vaporized is supplied to the boiler under a pressure equal to the vapor presfrom a water tank 4 through a pipe 5. The steam formed in the boiler B passes from the lower end of the coil through a pipe 6 to an expansion chamber 7 and thence through a pipe 8 to the point at which it is to be used. The flow of steam through the pipe 8 may be regulated by means of a valve 9. A branch pipe 10 containing a valve 11 provides means for conducting a part of the steam to a different point of use, for example, to a heater sure desired and is admitted to the boiler 12 through a passage so formed that vapor and liquid will not pass through it in opposite directions. The supply of liquid to the boiler 15 is thus controlled by the pressure created by the vapor formed in the boiler in such manner that liquid is supplied only when the vapor pressure falls below a desired value, that is, below the pressure at which the liquid is sup plied. In this way the pressure of the vapor supplied by the boiler is maintained approximately uniform regardless of the rate, within the capacity of the boiler, at which vapor is being drawn from the boiler.

Other features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter described in connection with a detailed description of a specific apparatus embodying the invention. Such apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing shows a simple form of apparatus Which has been used for supplying steam. It will be understood that apparatus according to the invention may difier in form and arrangement from that shown in the accompanying drawing, and that the invention may be used for supplying steam or other vapor for any desired purpose for which it may be found suitable.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a steam supply system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of parts of the apparatus.

In the apparatus illustrated, a flash boiler, or generator, B formed of a coil of pipe is mounted in a casing 1 through which hot gases are passed to heat the coil. These gases are supplied through a pipe 2 and pass out of the casing through a pipe 3. Water is 50 supplied to the upper end of the boiler coil The water in the tank 4 is maintained under a uniform pressure by pumping air into the top of this tank through a pipe 13. A hand pump 14 may be provided for this purpose. As the tank may be large compared to the amount of water consumed, the hand pp need be operated only occasionally in order to maintain the desired pressure in the tank ll.

In passing from the tank 4 to the boiler B through the pipe 5, the water goes through a U-pipe B providing an up-flow portion or leg 15 and through a needle valve B both as shown being inserted in the pipe 5 near the boiler.

In operation, the boiler B is maintained heated to a temperature well above the boiling point of water by the heat of the hot gases which pass through the casing 1. When the boiler has been heated, the needle valve B is opened sufliciently to permit a slow flow of Water under the pressure maintained in the tank 4. As soon as any water enters the boiler B it is converted into steam, creating a 'pressure in the boilerwhich will then be maintained approximately constant regardless of the rate at which steam is taken from the boiler. When the pressure in the boiler is equal to the pressure maintained in the tank 4 plus that due to the column of water in the pipe 5, or if it should be greater than such pressure, it prevents further flow of water into the boiler, and the steam is prevented from passing from the boiler B back through the pipe 5. When the pressure in the boiler falls below the desired pressure, water again flows under the supply pressure into the boil- When the boiler is in operation the yalve B should be opened sufliciently to permit water to flow into the boiler at a rate sulficient 'top of the up-flow conduit.

When the steam consumption is small, it

is possible to omit the U-pipe B or other up-flow portion of the water supply pipe, and to rely on the constriction provided by the valve B to prevent flow of water to the boiler against an opposing steam pressure. The smaller the passage through the valve B the more completely will it prevent the passage of the steam and water in opposite directions.

Water should not flow into the boiler at a rate sufficient to flood the boiler or close .its passage. The up-fiow leg of the supply conduit Will under most conditions prevent such too rapid in-fiow of the water, but if the apparatus is mounted on a moving or tilting platform, as on a boat, it is undesirable to have the conduit, especially if of relatively large size, extend in a horizontal direction for any considerable distance between its upflow leg and the boiler.

Whenever because of consumption or condensation of the steam formed in the boiler, the pressure in the boiler falls somewhat below the water supply pressure, additional water enters the boiler and flashes into steam, again raising the pressure in the boiler. I have found that while the pressure of the steam in the boiler oscillates somewhat, it remains always approximately equal to the pressure maintained in the tank 4. The oscillations of steam pressure are damped out in the chamber 7 so that the steam is supplied under approximately constant pressure to the valve 9. As this presure remains constant, the rate of flow of the steam through the valve'9 remains constant for any given setting of the valve. The rate may, however, be varied by adjustment of this valve, and the boiler will supply at the predetermined constant pressure the amount of steam required up to its capacity.

In addition to supplying steam or other vapor at aconstant predetermined pressure, i boilers or vapor generating apparatus according to my inventionhave the important advantage that the steam or other vapor may be superheated to very high temperatures without danger of harm to the apparatus, or

to persons, from explosion, since before any.

, considerable excess pressure in the boiler, which might otherwise result from such superheating, can be created, water in the my hand.

supply pipe 5 will be forced back by the pressure of the steam, and steam coming in contact with water in the pipe 5 or in the tank 4 will be condensed, and any substantial increase in pressure in the boiler will thus be prevented.

For the same reason, extreme variations in ing the portability of small boilers.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supplying vapor under constant pressure, comprising a fiash boiler; a vapor outlet from the lower part of the boiler; and means for supplying liquid to the top of the boiler comprising an up-fiow conduit, means for supplying liquid to the bottom of said up-flow conduit under a constant pressure, and a supply connection from the top of said up-flow conduit to the top of the boiler for the passage of liquid into-the boiler and for-the passage of vapor from the boiler to depress the liquid column in the up-flow conduit when the vapor pressure exceeds the liquid pressure at the top of the up-flow conduit.

2. Apparatus for supplying vapor under constant pressure, comprising a downwardly inclined tube, means for maintaining said tube at atemperature materially above the boiling point of the liquid to be vaporized, a liquid supply conduit connected to the upper end of said tube for supplying liquid under pressure thereto and including an upfiow portion, and a vapor outlet conduit connected to the lower end of said tube.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set PHILIP MASON CABELL. 

